My Ole Miss

Today, Kelly's Korner Tour is Alma Maters. And since I have such a strong love for Ole Miss I just had to participate.  You can link up here.

Fun facts
-Founded in 1848, it was the first public university in Mississippi.

-The Lyceum, the university's oldest building served as a hospital during the Civil War.

-There is a cemetary located behind the Tad Smith Coliseum that is the final resting place for over 100 confederate and union soldiers. 

-Ole Miss is the largest university in the state.

-Ole Miss houses the only legal marijuana farm in the United States. It is operated by the government and is used for research.

-UMMC (U. of MS Medical Center) performed the first lung transplant in the world in 1963 and then performed the world's first heart transplant in 1964.

-The first presidential debate to be held in the state of Mississippi occured at Ole Miss.  The university hosted the first presidential debate for the 2008 election.

-The speed limit on campus is 18 mph in honor of Archie Manning (he wore #18).

-Home of the world famous "the Grove, " a 10-acre plot of land in the  middle of campus full of shady oaks.

-Notable alumni include:

• Archie & Eli Manning
• John Grisham
• Michael Oher (The Blind Side) & Baltimore Ravens LT
• William Faulkner
• Shepard Smith
• Deuce McAllister
• Patrick Willis, San Fransisco 49er's.  Won the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year
• Dixie Carter
• Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs WR
• Josh Kelley
• 3 Miss America's: Susan Akin-Lynch (1986), Mary Ann Mobley Collins (1959), & Lynda Mead Shea (1960)

-Hotty Toddy chant
Are you ready?
Hell Yea! Damn Right!
Hotty Toddy, gosh almighty, who the hell are we?
Hey!
Flim flam bim bam Ole Miss by damn!
Before kick-off at every home game, a celebrity leads the stadium in the chant by yelling "Are you ready?"

the Lyceum

the Grove on gameday

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

Oxford-University Stadium
Swayze Field

Frank Everett once said, “There is a valid distinction between The University and Ole Miss even though the separate threads are closely interwoven. The University is buildings, trees and people. Ole Miss is mood, emotion and personality. One is physical, and the other is spiritual. One is tangible and the other intangible. The University is respected, but Ole Miss is loved. The University gives a diploma and regretfully terminates tenure, but one never graduates from Ole Miss.”

I couldn't agree more, Mr. Everett.

Hotty Toddy, Y'all!